Hands on with the Pentax 645Z

Hands on with the Pentax 645Z

Ricoh Imaging's Pentax 645Z is the newest entry into the digital medium format world. Medium format camera sales have been slipping since the days of film (and the rise of full-frame digital), and Ricoh hopes that the 645Z will reverse that trend.

The 645Z finds itself amongst some very pricey competitors, both of which use the same 50MP Sony sensor (with no AA filter, as you'd expect). The Hasselblad H5D-50C camera and Phase One IQ250 digital back have retail prices of $29,000 and $37,000, respectively - several times greater than the $8,499 MSRP of the 645Z. Pentax's experience with consumer DSLRs has allowed them to give the 645Z a larger ISO range, more sophisticated AF system, faster burst rates, and video recording - all of which the other cameras lack (though they have their own advantages, too).

That consumer-friendliness means it can also be seen as a rival to high-resolution DSLRs such as Nikon's D800E. It's not so readily hand-holdable, but it does make a 36MP full frame sensor suddenly sound less impressive.

The camera will be sold in a body-only kit for $8499.99 / £6799.99 or with a 55mm F2.8 lens for £7699.99. You can pick up a 645Z for yourself in late May. To put this in perspective, this is a around 17% less expensive than the existing, CCD-based 645D was, at launch.

We've been lucky enough to spend some time with a pre-production 645Z, and have some first impressions to share on the following slides.

Comments

The only thing that's got me is the 1/125 sync speed for the camera's shutter- that's going to detract from some of the functionality of the system. Pentax has manufactured leaf-shutter lenses for 645 before, apparently, so I'd hope to see some 1/500+ sync speeds made available for studio use.

Otherwise, I hope that Pentax has lenses/upgrades that are worthy of the SAFOX 11 AF system, at least to the point of trying to keep up with the 5D III and D800E. This thing needs to be a wedding camera among all else.

So DPR editors, the title of the article states "Hands on with the Pentax 645Z". Did you have a hands on chance to record some images with this new camera? Were you allowed to see and download the output (considering camera is not available yet for purchase)?Thank you.

I'm pretty sure that a price drop on used 645D bodies is part of the strategy behind the very aggressive pricing of the new 645Z. After all, Pentax needs to get their medium format cameras into as many enthusiasts' hands as possible, as quickly as possible, in order to take medium format mainstream. A steady stream of sales of both used and new MF bodies are going to be very important to the success of this camera at this price point. Go Pentax!

the 645D is still a very compelling camera, if you do not need the speed and iso above 1600 there is really not much difference. I am curious to see what sort of dynamic range this sensor can pull off. From Sony I can see some promising numbers.

Now this is the kick ass Pentax that I've been waiting for. Not some wannabe medium format pretender dressed in FF 35mm clothes, but the real deal at an enthusiast accessible price point. Ricoh! You done good baby!

But this is a medium format want to be. 43.8x32.8 is hardly full frame and noticeably smaller than real 645. It's a good step, and I'm glad they're mocking Hasselblad and Phase with their ludicrous prices for the same sensor, but true medium format, this is not.

5inchfloppy - It's more what the Canon APS-H (most recently in the 1DmkIV) were to FF, as it has a 1.3x crop (per jaad75 above) not 1.5/1.6x as per APS. Also remember that's linear, so the difference between 1.3/1.6 crop is a lot more on area - 1.3 crop has 50% more surface area than 1.6 crop.

Aha. Then who exactly were you blasting as "wannabe medium format pretenders"? Because apparently putting "645" on the camera is not pretending in your book. There has got to be someone else who pretends a lot more. Who?

Pretty sweet camera. I have been playing with a K50 lately and it is pretty amazing for the money. Sometimes I think Pentax is the only camera company that actually has passionate photographers on their staff.

When are they gonna drop the mirror. Of all the systems that could benefit of going mirrorless I would think this one wins hands down. They could make adapters for all those legacy lenses easily enough.

The foundational trait of photography is being aware, being an eye-witness to a moment.

A photograph taken is a distant memory of that experience, and is not so important immediately, but later, when we revoke the memories of being there, seeing the scene in the truest sense, and recollecting all the emotions.

An OVF provides as direct experience as one can get with a naked eye, without any interpretations and translations in between us and the world around us. An EVF of no matter what technology cannot provide such a level of intimacy of experience, because it interprets / translates the world for us.

Try a 645 D or Z some day, look through the viewfinder. I think you will understand this point.

the point is that a rangefinder focusing system isn't going to show you what the lens sees. which is the important part.

i shoot ir frequently, so i'm used to capturing light that cannot be seen with the naked eye, however, all of that ir information travels through the lens, and in using the lens, and training my eye, and mind, i am able to evaluate a scene and it's lighting conditions.. this applies to visible light too.

sure, we have meters, but if you can't see what you're looking at, then how do you know what's going on? because you trust the sensor? light, through a lens to your eye = zero latency, no lies and no confusion.

beyond that, the ratio between the subject and background of the scene changes with the focal length. those relationships are exaggerated at wide focal lengths, and compressed at long, and those are important factors to composition.. unless you're not taking advantage of those factors, in which case it's irrelevant to your photography.

Depends on how big you print and how far you have carry the camera on your back. Specific for landscape use, regardless of price I'd still give an A7r setup consideration due to the size/weight advantage and ability to adapt pretty much any lens (in particular Canon's 17mm/24mm tilt-shifts). A kit based around an A7r could pared down to the 8lb/3.8kg range w/ TS-lens/tripod/filters/etc., vs. likely close to twice that for a medium format setup. If you're doing significant time on the trail to get your shots - ie, multiple nights in the backcountry, where you have to carry a shelter, sleeping bag, food, etc., in additional to camera - all those things start to add up, and the more you carry, the slower you go.

don't forget to factor in all the extra batteries you have to carry for the A7r. Friend of mine carries his 5D3 for backcountry trips instead of his A7r due largely to woeful battery life, particularly in colder conditions.

"More pixels, better prints/files" does not hold true anymore. Many, if not most landscape photographs can be stitched from several frames, and carrying a smaller camera and doing stitching might produce just as good photographs, and maybe more of them as the system would be easier to carry around and take to places where bigger/heavier cameras can not go.

This new Pentax is undoubtedly a great camera, but considering cost, size, weight etc of the system it might not be ideal for all modern style landscape photography. FF cameras also have new state-of-the-art lenses like Zeiss Otus and Sigma Art series, which are better than anything available for MF, which levels the playing field also.

More about gear in this article

DxOMark has awarded the Pentax 645Z 101 points, making it the second-highest scoring medium format camera it's tested (or the highest scoring from 2015 to now, based on the originally published results).

Led by Pentax, digital medium format has gone from being the preserve of the pro to something a little more attainable. But what features matter most in such a camera and how do the three sub-$10,000 44 x 33mm cameras compare? Read more

Ricoh has announced it is to offer an infrared-sensitive version of its 645Z medium format camera, the 645Z IR. Sadly, the new model is not intended for public consumption, but will be aimed at museums and scientific establishments who will have to sign a usage agreement before they can make a purchase. Read more

Ricoh Imaging US has announced the Medium Format by PENTAX Advantage Program, a new support and service offering for the Pentax 645Z camera. Under this program, camera owners are given three years of extended service and support from the date of purchase, as well as loaner lenses and camera bodies and a toll-free support number. Read more

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